'We need reforms, but not to sell out everything'

An activist from the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) burns a portrait of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a protest against rise in fuel ...

Activists of the Trinamool Congress with West Bengal chief minister Mamta Banerjee march during a demonstration against the foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail in ...

BJP workers protesting against the price hike of LPG and diesel in Karad, Maharashtra. PTI

Socialist Unity Centre of India-Communist activists shout anti-Congress government slogans during a protest in New Delhi against recent fuel price rises. AFP/Raveendran

Supporters of main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party run over barricades installed by police during a protest against rise in fuel prices and foreign direct investment ...

Supporters of main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party stand over the barricades installed by police during a protest against rise in fuel prices and foreign direct ...

An activist of the main opposition Bharatiya Janta Party takes break from shouting slogans as she along with others participates in a protest in New ...

An activist of main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party shouts slogans as she carries an old cooking stove on her head during a protest in New ...

Bharatiya Chetana Party workers burn an effigy representing the ruling United Progressive Alliance government during a protest in Jammu. AP/Channi Anand

Delhi BJP workers burn an effigy during a protest against hike in the prices of diesel and LPG in New Delhi. PTI/Atul Yadav

A day after giving a 72-hour deadline to the Centre to rollback its decision on FDI in multi-brand retail and diesel price hike, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee today said reforms did not mean "selling out everything".

"Yes, we need reforms. But reform does not mean to sell out everything to satisfy some sections of individuals," the Trinamool Congress chief said in a post on her Facebook page.

"I do not support any decision to sell out everything. This might suit one section of the government," she said.

The Trinamool supremo, known for her stiff opposition to FDI in multi-brand retail, said, "A series of unilateral and anti-people decisions might help in raising Sensex points only for the time being.

"I agree that Sensex must be stable, but at the same time, policy and planning should not be used to impose back-breaking burden on the common people."

She said, "In a democratic set up, reforms must reach the poor and common people and the beauty of democracy lies in realising its responsibility towards the common people."

Noting that developed countries have many social security schemes, she said, "In our country, we do not have elaborate social security schemes or safety valve mechanism for protection of the interest of the common people."

She suggested that if black money was unearthed and brought back from abroad and used for development, "then Sensex will grow in an unparallelled manner."

She vowed, "We are determined to fight for the cause of the common people and we can sacrifice our lives but cannot compromise on it."